Check operated vending apparatus



April 13, 1937. F. w. HOBAN 2,076,564

CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1933 v 12 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Fair/talc! WHoban ATTO R N EY April 13, 1937. w HOBAN 2,076,564

CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1935 12 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR Faigfz'eld W Hoban B M H/(M ATTORNEY April 13, 1937.

F. W HOBAN CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Fairflield W Hoban ATTO R N EY April 1937. F. w. HOBAN 2,076,564

CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 a 5 I068 A k a 74 I H ma E a RT: 4 5

I586 5 Egg j; I l i :55: K 1D I I INVENTOR iaz'r/L'e/q W Hoban B i l ATTO RN EY April 13, 1937.

F. w. HQBAN CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Fair/field WHoban ATTORNEY April 13, 1937. F. w. HOBAN CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 [NVENTOR ia'zz'rfie/c/ (Hobart ATTORNEY April 13, 1937. F. w. HOBAN CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet '7 O R Fn'F/ie/e/ W Hoban ATTORNEY April 1 1937. F, w HOBAN 2,076,564

CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1935 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 N W N INVENTOR [Fl 1 Fair/1's [d WHobarz ATTO R N EY April 13, 1937. F. w. HOBAN CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1953 l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 are,

- INVENTOR F az'rfz'e/d' WHoban ATTORNEY April 13, 1937. F. w. HOBAN 2,076,564

CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1933 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 QVN J], v 1 1 L April 13, 1937. F. w. HOBAN 2,076,564

CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS l2 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Aug. 15, 1935 INVENTOR ATTO R N EY v April 13, 1937. E w HQBAN I 2,076,564

CHECK OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1935 12 Sheets-:Sheet 12 INVENTOR Fair/ ield WHoban Y MW 1% ATTORN EY Patented Apr. 13, 1937 PATENT OFFICE cnncx OPERATED VENDING APPARATUS Fairfield W. Hoban, New York, N. Y., assignor to J. E. Stewart, New York, N. Y., doing business under the firm name and style of Stewart &

McGuire Application August 15,

66 Claims.

My invention relates to check or coin controlled apparatus for vending commodities of various kinds, such as cigarettes, cigars, candy, chewing gum and other articles in packages or otherwise, and the same has for its object to provide a simple, reliable and efiicient apparatus which may be operated to effect the ejection of an article without complicated manipulation requiring more than ordinary intelligence, and which is substan- 10 tially immune to fraudulent or accidental manipulation or operation to prevent dispensing of the article without the required value in coins being inserted.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an apparatus of the character specified which is operated electrically in part under control of the coins inserted and in part under control of manipulation to vend selectively a plurality of different articles of the same value or different values and to return in change any balance of credit representing the difference between the amount of money inserted and the price of the article selected.

Another object of the invention is to provide an' 5 apparatus of the character specified in which the check operated circuit controlling means thereof is responsive to the passage of one or more coins of the same or different denominations not exceeding in value a predetermined'sum.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the return of coins totaling in excess of said predetermined amount.

Another object of the invention is to provide electrical means for rejecting slugs or spurious checks under the control of the check operated mechanism for effecting the return of excess coins.

Another object of the invention is to provide electrically operated means under the control of 0 the check operated means and of the several selectively operated means for returning change.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric motor for causing. the ejection of the various articles from their compartments and for resetting the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the coin operated master mechanism is operated to set the motor and change making circuits for 0 selective operation in response to the insertion of units of coin value each equal to the coin of lowest denomination receivable, one or more of said coin units according to the price adjustment of the selective operable controls for the circuits;

5 setting the circuit for starting the motor, and any 1933, Serial No. 685.175

coin units received in excess of those required to set the motor starting circuit setting the circuits of one or more of the change returning means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which each of the manually operated circuit controlling means thereof is adjustable to vend articles at various prices or units of coin value and to correspondingly determine the number of coin units to bereturned as change.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the motor and change means are controlled to insure simultaneous operation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which each selectively operated element, when actuated to start the motor to dispense one article is automatically locked to prevent selection of another article after the motor starts. I

Another'object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which the motor controls its own circuit to effect the resetting of the apparatus by motor power before the motor circuit can open.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which each of the several manually operated selector elements when actuated to control the circuits moves the corresponding article ejecting means into position to be actuated by a common motor driven actuating mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which provision is made for manually resetting the apparatus and returning any deposited coins to the operator prior to the operation of the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character specified in which provision is made for the return of change in sub-; units of a cent.

- Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of apparatus constructed according to and embodying my said invention, parts being broken away or omitted and parts being in section;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof, parts being broken away and parts omitted;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the coin operated master circuit setting or controlling means;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section thereof on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section thereof on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 showing the rotatable contact member advanced one step;

Fig. '7 is a horizontal section thereof on the line '|-'l of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a perspective of the rotatable contact member shown at Figs. 5 to '1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation on the line 9-9 of Fi 4;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section on the line I0I0 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 11 is a diagramoi a part of the circuits controlled by the check operated mechanism the latter being shown diagrammatically.

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of the apparatus on the line I2-I2 of Fig. l

Fig. 13 is a vertical section thereof on the line I3I3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section thereof on the line I4-I4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 15 is a sectional plan thereof on the line I5I5 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a vertical section thereof on the line I6I6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail vertical section of the selective contact control on the line 11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 18 is a sectional plan thereof on the line iii-I8 of Fig. 1'7;

Fig. 19 is a perspective of one of the adjustable or price setting selector contact elements;

Fig. 20 is a circuit diagram of the remainder of the circuits with parts of the mechanism shown diagrammatically.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus embodying my invention comprises a suitable support or frame in on which are mounted a plurality of vertical compartments I2 (Figs. 12, 13 and 16) for receiving the various articles to be dispensed. Each compartment terminates at the lower end thereof in spaced relation to a guideway l4 for slidably receiving an article ejecting member I6 individual to each compartment, the members or slides I6 being independently and selectively moved by the selector push buttons I8 into positions to be actuated to eject the article by common slide actuating means 20 operated by the electric motor 22 which also resets the apparatus as hereinafter more fully described.

I also provide a common change returning means 24 (Figs. 1, 2, 13 and 14) mounted in a suitable location on the support I0 and preferably comprising a plurality of vertical tubes 28 having coin ejecting slides 28 operated by electromagnets as indicated generally at 30.

The circuits of the motor 22 and electromagnets 3!! are in part under the control of the push buttons I8 each of which when actuated closes a group of contacts constituting selectively operated circuit controlling means 32.

The circuits including the several selective circuit controlling means 32 are also under the control of a master totalizing circuit controlling mechanism 34 (Figs. 3 to 11) operated by the coins or checks inserted, all as hereinafter more fully described.

The coin operated circuit controlling mechanism The coin operated mechanism 34 is mounted as a self contained unit in a frame or support 36 disposed above the coin receiving receptacle 38 (Figs. 1, 2, 12 and 16). The mechanism in the embodiment of the invention illustrated is provided with three coin chutes 40, 42 and 44 adapted for the passage of a nickel, a dime, and a quarter respectively, the chutes discharging the coins into receptacle 38. The coins in their passage close the circuits of a plurality of electromagnets 46-48-40, the magnets 46 and 48 actuating a totalizing circuit controlling means 52 for the nickel and dime, and the magnet 50 actuating a circuit controlling means 52a for the quarter. Both means 52 and 52a constituting the master control 34 are operated to place in circuit with one side of the line a group of flve fixed contacts 54 (designated individually in Fig. 20 as a-b-c-d-e). Said contacts 54 are common to the several sets of selectively operated contacts 32. The operation of the means 52 and 52a is such that the circuits between contacts 54 and one side of the line close successively as each five cent unit of coin value is inserted in the apparatus.

The electromagnets 46-48-50 are preferably of the type disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 640,495, filed October 31, 1932 in which the magnetic coils thereof are closed by means of the sets of coacting contacts 56-5860 at the upper ends of the magnets in circuit with the line.

Each set of contacts 56-58-6Il comprises a fixed contact mounted on a bracket 82 and a movable contact mounted on a spring member 64 below the bracket 62. Each spring member 54 carries a magnetic armature Ill. The several spring members 64 are held in open circuit positions by means of the spring controlled detents 12 having arms I4 extending into the chutes 40, 42 and 44 to be actuated by the passing coins. When a coin strikes any arm 14 the circuit of the corresponding magnet closes to magnetically actuate the plunger armatures I6, 18 or 80. As these plungers reach their uppermost positions the increased magnetic effect attracts the armatures ID to automatically open the circuits of the magnets and allow the return of the plungers I6I88IJ.

The plunger I6 actuated by the nickel is pivotally connected to a member 82 (Figs. 5, 6 and 7) pivotally mounted on a transverse shaft 84 rotatably journaled in the frame 36. The member 82 carries a spring pressed pallet 86 eoacting with a metallic toothed portion 88 on a rotary contact member 90 of insulating material secured to the shaft 84 and constituting a part of the master mechanism 34. A ratchet 92 also coacts with the teeth 88, said ratchet being disposed back of the pallet 86 and secured to a shaft 94 extending transversely across and journaled in the frame 36. "A spring 96 secured to arm 91 on the shaft 94 holds the ratchet 92 in engagement with the teeth 88. v

The teeth 88 on the member 90 in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated comprise seven in number to allow the plunger 76 to impart for each nickel inserted a step-by-step movement to the member 90 for successively closing the circuits from one side of the line to the contacts ab-c--de. -The member 90 (Fig. 8) is provided with a peripheral contact 98 including two offset circumferentially extending portions I00 and I02 connected by a transverse portion I04. The contact portion I00 coacts with a series of six separate contacts I06 and I06a to I058 supported on an arcuate insulating member I 08 and disposed so that the contact I 06 is normally in engagement with portion I00, and to cause the contacts lllfia to H158 to successively engage with portion I00 as the member 80 is rotated step-by-step, thereby successively closing the circuits from the contacts a-bcde.

The contact portion I02 coacts with a series of contacts H0, H2 and H4 on member I08. These contacts II 0-I'I4 all engage the portion I02 in the unactuated position of member 80 and are arranged in circuit with electrically operated slug elimination devices H6, HM and 6b (Fig. 11) for the quarter, dime and nickel respectively. The contacts IIO'I I2-I I4 are arranged to disengage contact portion I02 upon actuation of rotor 90 to short circuit the slug eliminators I I6--I Mia and II6b in such order that when any coin inserted totals an amount in excess of twenty-flve cents, the excess coin is returned to prevent actuation of the master mechanism thereby as hereinafter more fully described.

The plunger 18 controlled by the dime imparts a step-by-step movement to the toothed member H8 (Fig. 9) secured to the shaft 84. The plunger 18 is pivotally connected to an arm I20 swinging on shaft 84 and carrying a. spring pressed pallet I22 coacting with the series of teeth on the member I I8. A finger I24 is secured to the shaft 94 back of the pallet I22 for disengaging the same. The plunger 18 upon each actuation moves substantially twice the distance that the plunger 16 moves so that for each dime inserted the member 90 moves two steps or increments of movement to control the circuits. In their lowermost positions the plungers 16 and 18 rest on the stops I26 and I28. ,Upon the release of the ratchet 92 and pallets 86 and I22 by actuation of the shaft 64 as hereinafter described, the shaft 84 and parts carried thereby are returned to normal position or reset by the spring I30.

The plunger 80 controlled by the quarter, actuates the circuit controlling means 520. which is mechanically actuated independently. of the mechanical circuit controlling means 52 for the nickel and dime so that the circuits from one side of the line to the contacts a-bcde may be closed by a single movement of the plunger 80 without imposing too long a throw on the plunger such as would be required if the plunger had to move member 90 through five steps or increments of movement at one operation. The circuit controlling means 52a for the quarter includes a contact member I34 of insulating material rotatably mounted on the frame 36 (Fig. 10) and coacting with an arcuate insulating member I36. The plunger 80 is pivotally connected to an arm I38 swinging on the shaft for the member I34 and carrying a spring pressed pallet I40 engageable with a toothed portion I42 on member I34. A ratchet 'I44 secured to shaft 84 also engages the teeth I42 back of the pallet I40. The plunger 80 in its lowermost position rests on a stop I46. The plunger 80 upon actuation moves the member I34 one step (the equivalent of the five steps of member 90) against the tension of the return spring I48.

The rotary member I 34 has a series of fixed radial contacts I50 and I50a to I50e conductively connected by an annular portion I52, the contact I50 having an enlarged circumferential porslug eliminators II 6, HM and H6b. The contact I58 is disengaged to open the circuits controlled by member 90 upon actuation of member I34. The member I36 also carries a series of contacts I58a to I58e normally in offset relation to the contacts I50a to I 50c but adapted to engage the same to close contacts ab-c-d-e with the same side of the line upon actuation of member I34, the contacts I58a to I58e being in circuit with the corresponding contacts I06a to I06e through the conductors IBM to I60e (Fig. 4) and the contact I58 being electrically connected with the contact I06 through conductor I62.

The slug eliminators II 6-I I Ga -I I6b are shown diagrammatically for the purpose of the present invention in Fig. 11 and are preferably of the type shown'and described in my copending application Serial No.'517,222, filed Feb. 20, 1931, for preventing the acceptance of checks counterfeiting silver coins, and in my copending application Serial No. 665,066, filed April 8, 1933, for preventing the acceptance of checks counterfeiting nickel coins.

The slug eliminators each comprises a magnetic core I64 providing a gap or gaps associated with the chutes 40-42-44 and traversed by fluctuating or alternating magnetic fields. Coils I66 are disposed about the cores I64. The circuits of each of the coils I66 is controlled by the action of a coin or check actuated, timing electromagnetic device I68, preferably of the character shown and described in my copending applica tion Serial No. 640,495 above mentioned. The circuit of each coil I 66 is controlled by a pair of contacts I10 tending to close and normally held in open position by the weight of the armature plunger I12 of the timing device I68. The plunger I12 is magnetically elevated to allow the contacts I10 to close upon the closing of the circuit of the coil I14 of the timing device I68. The circult of the coil I14 is controlled through the con tacts I16 tending to close and normally held in open position by the detent I18 having an arm I80 extending into the path of the coin in the chute. When the plunger I12 reaches its uppermost position the increase in magnetic effect causes the armature I82 to be attracted to automatically open the circuit of coil I74, the plunger thereupon returning with a delayed action to open the contacts I10 of the coil I66. In operation, good coins passing through the Slugeliminators are deflected from a normal gravitational path into the portions of the chutes 40-42-44 leading to the master mechanism 34 to actuate the same while slugs and eounterfeits pass out through a normal gravity path into chutes I84 to be returned. When the eliminators H6, I IBa and H61) are dead, i. e., unenergized any good coin will also pass out through the normal gravity path through chutes I84 to be returned.

The input side of the coils I65 and I14 of each of the several eliminators H6, H6a and H61) are connected with one side of the line (indicated for convenience as plus) through the conductors I86. The circuits of the coils I66 at the negative side of the line, and preferably the output circuits for both coils I66 and I14 of each eliminator are also controlled by the operation of the master mechanism 34 to prevent passage of good coins to said mechanism in excess of a predetermined amount, say twenty-five cents. For this purpose a conductor I88 extends from the common output point I60 of the coils I66 and I14 of the quarter slug eliminator H6 to the contact H0, a conductor I62 extendsfrom the common output point I94 of the dime eliminator II6a to the contact H2, and a conductor I95 extends from the common output point I96 of the nickel eliminator I I6b to the contact I I4. The circuit is completed to the negative side of the line through the conductive portion of rotary member 90, contact I06, conductor I62, contact I58, the conductive portion of rotary member I34, and contact I56. The contacts mm to I06e and contacts I58a to I58e 10 connected by conductors I60a to I60e are in circuit with the negative side of the fixed selective contacts ab-cde through the conductors 200a to 200s. The remainder of the circuits is illustrated in Fig. 20 and is hereinafter more fully 15 described.

In operation, when a nickel is inserted in chute 40 member 90 is rotated one step to disengage contact I I from contact portion I02 and to bring contact portion I00 into engagement with con- 20 tact I06a. This operation opens the circuit of the slug eliminator II6 to prevent operation of the master mechanism 34 by a quarter if the same is now inserted. The eliminator II6, now being dead, returns any quarter inserted. This oper- 25 ation also closes the circuit between the contact a and the negative side of-the line. As additional nickels are inserted, the contacts I06b to I066 are successively engaged by the portion I00 to successively close the circuits be- 30 tween the contacts to e" and the negative side of the line. When a fourth nickel is inserted, the contact H2 is positioned to disengage the contact portion I02 to open the circuit of the slug eliminator II6a to prevent operation of the 5 mechanism 34 by a dime as above described. Upon insertion of the fifth nickel the portion I02 dis-engages the contact II 4 to open the circuit of the eliminator II6b to prevent operation of the mechanism by another nickel.

40 The operation of the master mechanism 34 upon insertion of dimes into the chute 42 is substantially like that for the nickel, except that the rotary member 90 is moved two steps for each dime inserted. The insertion of the first dime 45 opens the circuit of the quarter eliminator H6 and the insertion of the second dime opens the circuit of the dime eliminator II6a. The master means 34 is actuated upon insertion of any combination of nickels and dimes not exceeding 50 twenty-five cents to successively close the circuits between contacts abcl-e and the negative side of the line.

Upon insertion of a quarter into chute 44, member I34 is rotated to cause contact I58 to 55 disengage the contact I50a. This operation opens the circuits or all of the slug eliminators by opening the circuit portion I62 between the contact I06, and contacts I I0-l I4, and the negative side of the line. The same operation causes 60 engagement of the contacts I58a to I58e with contacts I50a to I50e to p ace contacts abc d-e in circuit with the negative side of the line.

The price adjusted selectively operable circuit 65 controls The several selectively operable circuit controlling means 32 closed by the push buttons I8 (Figs. 1, 12, 14, 1'7, 18, and 19) include the five fixed contacts abc-d-e which consist of 70 transverse metallic strips arranged in spaced relation one above the other and embedded in the upper portion of a vertical panel 202 of insulating material located on the forward portion of frame I0 above the slides I6, said strips 54 being 75 common to the several circuit controlling means 32. Said means 32 also include separate coextensive transverse metallic strips (five in number) disposed horizontally in spaced apart relation between the insulating portions 204 forming a ledge at the lower portion of the panel 202, said last namedstrips being indicated at 202a to 202e.

As shown at Fig. 20, the strip 202a is electrically connected by conductor 206 with the negative pole of a relay electromagnet 208 for controlling the joint operation of the motor 22 and of the change magnets 30 while the strips 2022) to 202e are electrically connected by conductors 2I0 to 2I6 to the negative poles of the change magnets 30, indicated individually as 30b to 30s, all as hereinafter more fully described.

The manual closing or the circuits between the conducting strips 11" to e and 202a to 202e by means of the selective push buttons I8 is effected through the groups of five spring finger contacts 2I8a to 2I8e extending vertically from the forward edge of the ledge portion 204, each group lying in the path of a vertical actuating member or upright 220 secured at the lower end thereof to the corresponding push button I8 and having a contact engaging portion 222 of insulating material at the upper end thereof.

As shown more clearly at Figs. 17 and 18, the spring contact 2I8a is electrically connected with the metallic strip 202a and in like manner the spring contacts 2 I812 to 2I8e are electrically connected with a different one of the metallic strips 202!) to 202e respectively by bolts, indicated generally at 224, extending through the clearance spaces 226 so that the bolt connected to one metallic strip is insulated from the other metallic strips.

In the present invention I make provision associated with each of the selective circuit controls 32 for determining the price at which an article from each compartment I2 is to be vended. For this purpose, I provide sets of spaced vertical guideways 228 upon the front of the panel 202 slidably receiving blocks 230 of insulating material. Each block 230 at the front thereof is provided with vertically extending spaced metallic strips 232 corresponding in number with the spring contacts 2I8a to 2I8e and each disposed to be engaged by a difierent one of said spring contacts. Each block 230 at the rear thereof is provided with vertical grooves 234 receiving spring contacts, indicated generally as 236, having free ends 236a to 2362) adapted to 'frictionally engage the fixed contact strips w-bc-tt-e and each electrically connected to a difierent one of the front strips 232. The contact ends from contact 236a to contact 236e progressively decrease in elevation, the spring contacts 2I8a to 2I8e when depressed being placed in circuit with the contacts 236a to 236e in the same order, 1. e. the contact 2I8a with contact 236a, etc.

It will be noted that when the block 230 is in its uppermost position the contact 236a engages the upper contact strip a and the contact 236e engages the lowermost strip e, the parts being now in position to vend an article from the corresponding compartment for five cents, returning it a quarter is inserted, twenty cents in nickels as change. If the block 230 is adjusted so that contact 236a engages contact strip b", at least ten cents in coins must be inserted before the master mechanism 34 closes the circuit from b to one side of the line, and hence, before depression of the contacts 2I6a to 2I0e value to be inserted into the apparatus before the motor upon depression of a push button l8 15 can be operated to eject the article. This adjustment also cuts out one of the change magnets 30b-to 302 for each five cent increase in price determining adjustment so that the change returned always represents in nickels the differ- "AO ence between the amount of coin inserted in the apparatus and the price of the article selected.

The mechanical features of the selective control The push buttons 18 selectively controlling the circuits at 32 as above described are also utilized for placing the ejector elements or slides 16 each selectively in operative relation to the common actuating means 20. As shown at Figs. 1, 12, 14 and 15, the buttons iii are slidably disposed in a plane slightly below the plane of the slides 18 and in advance thereof. Each button [8 projects at the front thereof through the panel 236 and is provided with a reduced or flattened stem portion 238 slidably supported at the inner end by the transverse member 240 of the frame or support i 0. I also provide means, indicated at 242, associated with the several push buttons between the parts 236a and 240 for preventing more than one push button from 40 being operated at a time. This means comprises an elongated transversely arranged inclosure or race 244, containing a plurality of loosely arranged elements 246 and 246a, the elements 246a consisting of balls disposed at opposite i 2' sides of the reduced portions 238 of the buttons, which portions 238 extend through openings in the race 242, and are provided with holes 248 adapted to register with the balls 246a in the projected position of the push button. The F clearance between the elements 246-246a is such as to allow one only of the push buttons I8 to be depressed at a time to force the reduced portions 238 therebetween, the movement of one push button forcing the balls 246a into the holes 248 cf the other push buttons to lock the same.

I also provide common means for locking each push button l8 in depressed position when the motor 22 starts to prevent return of the depressed push button and the actuation of another button after the article ejecting operation starts. This means consists of an elongated slide 250 extending transversely of the push buttons l8 and slidably supported at the front of the member 240. The slide 250 is provided with a series of holes 252 through which the button portions 238 extend, and each of the latter are provided with spaced holes 254 and 256, the holes 254 and 256 being adapted to receive the tongues 258 formed on the slide 250 and projecting into the holes 252 thereof. The slide 250 at one end is provided with a depending arm 260 connected to the armature plunger 262 of the electromagnet 208 to be actuated thereby when the circuit therethrough is closed as above described. The construction is such that when one of the push buttons 18 is depressed as shown in Fig. 15 to complete the circuit through the magnet 208 (see Fig. 20) the slide 250 is moved to the right (Fig. 1) to cause one of the tongues 258 to enter the hole 256 of the depressed button I8 to lock the same, the remaining tongues 258 on the slide 250 entering the holes 254 of the undepressed buttons 18. The movement of the slide 250 to locking position automatically closes an independent circuit through the motor 22 and to one'side of the several change magnets 30b to 30c, as hereinafter described, by the closing of the contacts 264 by the cam portion 266 on the slide 250. Hence, when the motor starts to eifect the, ejecting operation, it will be impossible to release the depressed button 18 and actuate other buttons to move the ejecting slides of other compartments into operative relation to the moving slide actuating means 20 to obtain articles of greater value than the amount of money inserted in the apparatus. The locking operation also insures'that the particular selective circuit controlling means 32 actuated by the depressed button remains closed until release of the locking slide 250 as hereinafter described.

The individual ejector elements l6 sliding in the guideways l4 are provided with depending pins 268 riding in slots 210 in the bases of the guideways, each pin 268 being engaged by the inner end of one of the push buttons l6. The slides 16 are mounted for movement independent of the buttons l8 but are held in retracted positions in contact with the buttons l8 by coil springs 212 each secured at one end to a push button l8 and at its opposite end to the corresponding slide 16. When any push button I 8 is depressed the pin 268 of the corresponding slide is moved into the path of one of the arms 214 on the motor actuated shaft 216 constituting the common slide actuating means 20.

The return of the buttons 18 to projected or normal positions is effected by a member 218 swinging on the frame work l0 and engaging depending pins 280 on the buttons l8, said member 218 having spring means 282 of the dashpot type acting thereon to return any depressed push button, the dashpot retarding such return to obviate noise and jar.

The auxiliary change returning means In order to render the apparatus readily adaptable to vend articles at prices other than in units of five cents, for example, to allow articles to be vended at eleven or twelve cents, or at two or three cents, I provide auxiliary change returning means 284 adapted to be readily associated as a unit with one or more'of the cooperating sets of slides I6 and push button l8 to be actuated thereby to return change in sub-units of a cent. For

example, I have illustrated at Figs. 1, 12, 13, and.

15, one of such units 284 secured to the upstanding posts 286 on the race member 244 above one of the slides I6. The unit 284 includes one to four change tubes 288, three tubes for receiving one cent coins being illustrated, having coin ejecting slide 290 at the bases of the tubes for ejecting the coins upon actuation thereof. The slide 280 at opposite sides is provided with rearwardly and downwardly extending fingers 292 having downturned lugs 294 at the ends thereof engaging the article ejecting slide IS. The slide 16 has side portions 296 extending towards the front at opposite sides of the upright 220 and spring 212 and terminating in upturned lugs 298.

In the inactive position of the slide l6 shown, the distance between the lugs 234 and 298 is greater than the distance that the associate slide it can be moved by its push button I8. In operation, however, as the slide actuating means takes over the movement of the associated slide it the lugs 298 ultimately engage the lugs 234 to effect coin ejecting movement of the slide 290. Upon return of the associated depressed button 58, the upright 220 thereof engages the slide 290 to return the same to the original position as shown. The ejection of the coins from tubes 288 can only be efiected by operation of the motor.

Utilizing three tubes 288 as shown, one, two or three cents can be returned as change depending on whether or not the tubes contain coins. By adjustment of the article value changing contact block 230 associated with the auxiliary change device 284, the prices at which the various articles are vended from the associated compartment may be varied over a wide range. Although the particular compartment i2 shown at Fig. 12 is adjusted at contacts 32 to vend an article therefrom for-two cents; provided that all three tubes 288 are filled with coins, block 230 may be readily The motor and change making circuits Upon depression of any of the push buttons l8, the particular contacts 2l8b to 2l8e associated therewith are depressed to engage conducting strips 232 and close the circuits to the negative side of one or more of the change magnets b to 30c, depending on the price adjustment at 32 and on the amount of money inserted in the apparatus, and the contact 2| 8a then engages its conductive strip 232 to close the circuit of the magnet 208, causing actuation of the locking slide 250 and the closing of the contacts 264 in circuit with the positive side of the magnets 30b to 30a and in circuit with the motor 22. The contact point of each spring contact 218a (Fig. 17) is shorter than the contact points of the spring contacts 2l8b to 2|8e so that the latter engage the strips 232 before the former to insure closing of the circuits to the negative side of the magnets 30b to 302 before the contacts 264 close to start the operation of the change magnets 30 and of the motor 22.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 13, the motor 22 is supported upon a platform 300 at the bottom of the frame ID. A rotatable disk member 302 is journaled on an upright support 304 on platform 300 for rotation from the motor 22 through a flexible shaft 306. The disk member 302 includes reduced and enlarged peripheral cam portions 308 and 310, the former having a recess or depression 3l2 therein and the latter having an enlargement or hump 314 thereon, the remaining part of each periphery 308 and M0 being otherwise of uniform radius.

The reduced portion 308 coacts with a member 3|6 pivoted to the support 304 and having a nose 3l8 riding on and guided by the periphery 308. A pair of normally open spring contacts 320 are secured to the support 304 above the arm 316 in position to be closed by said arm when the nose 3|8 thereof engages the part of the periphery 308 of greater radius, i. e., when the nose leaves the recess 3l2.

The cam portion 310 also coacts with a pivoted arm 322 having a nose 324 riding on said periphery 3|0. A pair of normally open spring contacts 326 are secured to the support 304 in position to be closed by said arm 322 when the nose 324 thereof engages the hump 3I4.

Oscillatory movement is imparted to the ejector slide actuating means 20 by means of a. link 32'! pivoted at one end to the outside of member 302 near the periphery and pivotally connected at its opposite end to the crank arm 321a secured to the actuating shaft 216, the operation being described hereinafter.

Referring now to Fig. 20, when the contacts 264 are closed, a circuit is completed through the motor 22 from the plus side of the line through conductor 328, contacts 264, conductor 330, the motor 22 including the series stator winding 33 2, and conductor 334 to the negative side of the line. At the same time the circuit is completed from contacts 264 to the positive side of the magnets 30, through a branch conductor 336 con nected to the conductor 330. The motor thereupon starts operating to eject the article, and simultaneously the change magnets 30 actuate the slides 28 to eject the change.

When the member 302 starts rotating the am 316 leaves the recess 3| 2 and is elevated to close contacts 326. This closes an independent circuit through the motor from the positive side of the line through conductor 328, contacts 320, conductor 338, conductor 330, the motor 22 and conductor 334 to the other side of the line.

The contacts 320 remain closed until the rotation of member 302 is completed and the arm 3| 6 again drops into the recess 312. The parts are so coordinated that the article ejecting operation and the resetting operation, including the opening of the circuit at contacts 264, as hereinafter described, are completed before the circuit of the motor through contacts 320 opens. The hump 324 is located to elevate the arm 322 to close the contacts 326 slightly before the contacts 320 open, and to maintain the contacts 326 closed for an interval after the contacts 320 open. The relative positions of the recess 3I2 and the hump 3 l4 are clearly shown in Fig. 13. The closing of the contacts 326 short circuits the stator winding 332 through conductor 340 to retard the speed of the motor so that the motor always stops in the same position upon opening of the circuit thereof at 320.

The coin depository controlling means and resetting mechanism The depository or receptacle 36 (Figs. 1, 2, 12 and 16) receiving the coins operating the master mechanism 34 comprises fixed end wall portions 342, a fixed vertical rear wall portion 344 and a fixed rearwardly inclined front wall portion 346. The bottom of the receptacle 38 comprises two trap doors 348 and 350 in the closed positions thereof disposed in converging relation extending downwardly from the lower edges of the wall portions 344 and 346. The door 348 is secured to a pivot rod 352 journaled in the opposite wall portions 342 adjacent to the lower edge of the wall 346, and the door 350 is secured to pivot rod 354 journaled in the side walls 342 vertically below the pivot 352 in such position as to serve as a stop for the door 348 in the closed position, said door 348 being urged to closed position by the leaf spring 356. The door 350 is normally retained by the actuating mechanism thereof as hereinafter described in closed position extending upwardly and rearwardly into proximity to the .lower edge of the rear wall 344.

The door 348 may be manually opened by the operator at any time before the motor starts, the door swinging open to the position shown in broken lines Fig. '12 to dump out the inserted coins into a forwardly extending chute 351 to be returned.

The actuation of the door 348 is preferably effected by means of a special push button I8a, shown at the right hand end of Fig. 1 and also at Fig. 13. The push button I 8a is constructed like the push buttons I8, and cooperates with the locking means 242 to preventmore than one push button I8 or I8a being depressed at a time. The push button I8a has a link connection 358 with a crank 368 secured to a transverse shaft 362 journaled in the framework forming the change discharge chute 364 and projecting into proximity to the wall 342 of the coin receptacle 38. An actuating arm 366 (Figs. 1, 2, and 16) is secured in vertical position to the projecting end of the shaft 362, and is provided with a forwardly directed finger 368 overlying a cam arm 318 secured to the projecting end of the pivot shaft 352, whereby upon depression of the button I8a the finger 368 engages arm 318 to open the gate or door 348 to return the coins to the operator.

The manual coin return mechanism is arranged to reset the master coin operated mechanism 34 so that the apparatus can not be operated to deliver goods after the coins are returned. For this purpose the contiguous projecting end of the resetting shaft 34 of mechanism 34 is provided with a cam arm 312 extending rearwardly into proximity to a pin 314 projecting from the upper end of the actuating arm 366 and coacting with the cam portion 316 on arm 312 so that when arm 366 is actuated the pin 314 rides on portion 316 to swing arm 312 upwardly, rotating shaft 34 against the tension of spring 86 and releasing the pallets and ratchets from the rotary members 88, II 8 and I34 of the master mechanism 34 to allow the latter to return to normal position under the action of the resetting springs I38- i the motor through contacts 264 is also reset through operation of the motor, said operation also opening the gate or trap 358 of the coin receptacle 38 to dump any coin therein into a suitable receptacle within the cabinet of the apparatus to be retained. For this purpose an arm 318 is pivoted at 388 to the upright 384- and extends forwardly between said upright 384 and the motor driven member 382 over the shaft of said member 382. A coil spring 382 is secured at one end to the platform 388 and at its opposite end to said arm 318 to bias the arm towards said shaft. The arm 318 is connected by a link 384 to a crank arm 386 secured to a transverse shaft 388 journaled in the portion of the framework I8 supporting the change mechanism 24 on a line located above the slides 28 between the coin tubes 26 andmagnets 38 (see Fig. 14). The shaft 388 at said slides 28 is provided with change slide resetting means, such as the depending fingers or pins 388 straddling the magnet armatures 392 and adapted to engage the-slides 28 upon retraction thereof by magnets 38, and, upon actuation of shaft 368, to return said slides 28 to normal positions simultaneously with the opening of the negative side of the circuits of the magnets 38.

The shaft 388 projects at its opposite end beyond the change mechanism and carries a bell crank lever 384 at said end, said lever 334 including a vertical arm 386 having a pin 398 adapted to ooact with a cam portion 488 in the arm 312 of reset shaft 34 for resetting the master mechanism 34 when said shaft 388 is rotated to swing said arm 396 rearwardly. The other arm 482 of the bell crank lever extends rearwardly and is connected by a link 484 to a crank arm 486 secured to the pivot shaft 354 of the door 358 to open the same as shown in broken lines 'Fig'. 12.

The actuation of the shaft 388 from arm 318 against the tension of the spring 382 is effected by rotation of the member 382 through the eccentric pin 488 projecting from the inner side of the member 382 near the center below the arm 318. As the member 382 rotates in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 13) the pin 488 moves clockwise, and before the rotation is completed finally engages the arm 318 to lift the same temporarily to actuate the resetting mechanism as above de scribed, the pin then allowing, as the motor circuit automatically opens at contacts 328, the actuated means to be returned by the action of spring 382, thereby closing the door 358 and releasing arm 312 to allow the ratchets and pallets to again engage the rotary members of the master coin operated mechanism 34.

The slide 258 is returned to unlocked position and the circuit through contacts 264 is opened at the same resetting operation by provision of a shaft 4| 8 journaled on the frame I8 and extending from front to rear. the rear end of said shaft 8 and is biased by the weight of the parts to rest on a lug M4 on the link 384. As the link is elevated, an arm M6 on the forward end of the shaft 4I8 swings into engagement with the contiguous end of the looking slide 258, to return the same to normal position, unlocking the depressed push button I8,

I and opening the motor circuit through contacts 264, the motor circuit through contacts 328 remaining closed to insure continued operation of the motor until the resetting operation is completed.

The operation of the apparatus has been largely described in connection with the foregoing description of the various features of the invention. In general, the apparatus is set for selective operation by push buttons I8 upon the insertion of coins of various denominations, designated herein as a nickel, dime and quarter up to predetermined limit, in the embodiment of the invention disclosed, not in excess of twentyfive cents.

The master mechanism 34 is actuated in re sponse to the insertion of one to five five cents units of coin value, whether inserted in nickels, dimes, or combinations thereof, or as a quarter, the insertion ofone coin unit short circuiting the quarter slug eliminator I I6, the insertion of four coin units short circuiting the dime slug eliminator H60, and the insertion of five coin units short circuiting the nickel slug eliminator IIGb. This insures the return of any coin inserted in excess of twenty five cents to prevent actuation of the master mechanism 34 thereby.

The insertion of one to five coin units actuates A pin 2 is carried atthe master mechanism to place a corresponding number of the contacts a bc-d--e, in circuit with the negative side of the line, the insertion of one coin um't closing the circuit to contact a,

the insertion of two coin units closing the circuits to contacts a and 12", and so on.

The contacts abc-de at each of the selectively operable contact closing means 32 are operatively associated with the fixed contact 202a to the motor starting magnet 20B and with the fixed contacts 2021) to 202e, each to one of the four nickel change ejecting magnets 30!) to 30c.

The block 230 of each selectively operable contact means 32 is adjustable so that, upon action of the corresponding push button i8, any contact a-bc--d or e may be placed in circuit through contact 202a with the motor starting magnet 208 to require the insertion of one, two, three, four or five coin units before the circuits 0 can be closed to start the motor, thereby determining the units of credit required to effect the ejection of the article and hence the price at which the article is vended.

When the contact a is in operative relation to 25 contact 202a all four of the change return magnets 30 are in operative relation to the contacts bc-d-e to effect the return of one to four nickels in change, according to the amount of coin units inserted in excess of the one unit re- 30 quired to place the motor starting magnet 208 in condition for selective operation. Adjustment of the block 230 to place the contact 1) in operative relation to contact 202a, requiring the insertion of two coin units for motor starting cuts 35 out the change magnet 30e from contact e to reduce by one unit the amount of change returnable, the coin units returnable in change being correspondingly reduced as the number of coin units required for motor starting is increased so 4 that the sum of the coin units required for motor starting and of the coin units returnable in change is always equal to the number of coin units inserted, not exceeding five coin units totaling twenty-five cents. It is impossible to actuate any selective means to effect the ejection of the article unless an amount of coin is inserted equal to the price for which the selective contact means 32 is set.

The operation of the change makers is also 0 under the control of the master mechanism 34 through contacts b-c--de so that each coin unit inserted representing a balance of credit returnable in change sets the circuit of one of the change makers for selective operation. For example, if the apparatus is set to require the insertion of three coin units for motor starting, and two dimes are inserted in the apparatus, only one of the two available change makers is closed to the negative side of the line through contact 60 it upon selective operation, and hence only one nickel is returned as change. If a quarter were inserted, two nickels would be returned, since the contacts d and e are then closed to the negative side of the line.

65 a If the operator after inserting a certain amount in coins decides that he does not want any of the articles sold, or finds, that none of the articles displayed are sold for the amount inserted he can effect the return of the coins from receptacle 70 38 by depression of the push button l8a actuating door 348. This operation resets the apparatus and precludes the possibility of ejecting an article after obtaining the return of the money.

The operator upon selecting an article de- 75 presses the corresponding button l8 therefor which causes the member 222 on said push button to depress the contacts 2i8a to 2l8e to close the motor and change making circuits and lock the button in depressed position.

The depression of the push button [8 moves the corresponding ejector slide l6 rearwardly to position the pin 268 carried thereby in the path of the aligned arm or cam 214 carried by the common actuating shaft 216 operated from the motor 22. The crank 321a and the connection of the link 321 to the rotatable member 302 is such as to cause the arm 214 to swing back and forth through an arc of 115 degrees, more or less, as the member 302 rotates through one revolution. As the arm 214 swings upwardly it engages the pin 268 to move the corresponding slide 16 rearwardly to effect the article ejecting operation, tensioning the spring 212. As the arm 214 returns, the spring 212 causes the return of the slide l5 into engagement with the inner end of the push button H! which is still held depressed by the tensioned spring 212, although the slide 250 at this point unlocks the depressed button I8. Snap retraction of the slide i6 is prevented because the slide I6 returns with the pin 268 thereon in engagement with the arm 214. As

, the tension on spring 212 reduces the push button l8 and slide I6 return together to normal position under the action of the spring actuated button returning means 218.

The depression of the push button l8 to effect said ejecting operation, closes the motor circuit and the circuits of the magnets 30 through a common pair of contacts 254 to insure simultaneous operation thereof. The motor upon starting then immediately closes its own independent circuit through contacts 320.

As the arm 214 starts to return, the apparatus is operated automatically by the motor, as above described, to first open the door 350 of the coin recceptacle 38 to discharge the coins therefrom and to reset the master totalizing mechanism 34 and change slides 28, and then to return the slide 250 to release the depressed button l8, the circuit of the motor 22 remaining closed through contacts 320 after the other circuit thereof through contacts 264 is opened, insuring completion of the resetting operation before the motor is deenergizecl. After the resetting operation the contacts 326 close to retard the motor and the motor circuit opens at the contacts 320.

The apparatus embodying my invention is operated by the coins to set the circuits for selective operation, and by merely depressing a selected push button l8, the apparatus operates automatically to eject the selected article and any change and to reset.

The master totalizing contact controlling means 34 is responsive to one or more coins of various denominations insertable in the apparatus in combinations not exceeding a predetermined amount, and includes provision for preventing excess coins from actuating the same and remaining in the apparatus without giving value received, said master means 34 preferably controlling to effect return of excess coins the circuits of the slug eliminators H6, Ilia and IIGb which prevent the apparatus from being fradulently operated by spurious coins or slugs.

The master circuit controlling mechanism 34 and the change maker mechanism 30 are common to any suitable number of selectively operated push button actuated means 32, one asso-' ciated with each compartment for receiving the articles to be vended, and the price adjustment 

